Lando Norris has once again proven he is not just a lucky champion. Two recent rounds have turned him into an unexpected dark horse in the 2026 Formula 1 title fight. He now sits just 83 points behind the championship leader, and McLaren boss Andrea Stella insists the Briton keeps improving at the highest level.
Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren's hopes of defending the drivers' title looked slim. Kimi Antonelli led with 204 points, while Norris (103) and Oscar Piastri (92) combined could not match that tally. However, a major upgrade package introduced at the Hungaroring—featuring new front and rear corner bodywork, floor, and rear wing—changed everything instantly. Norris won from pole in Hungary and repeated that feat at Zandvoort, overtaking Antonelli around the outside at Turn 1.
Stella refuses to attribute the results solely to the upgrades. He believes Norris is now extracting the maximum from the MCL40, often outperforming his machinery. "Lando is driving and operating at a very high level, in absolute sense, in relation to a Formula 1 world champion," Stella said after the Dutch GP. "He's driving at the level of a world champion."
What impresses Stella most is Norris's continuous growth. "Since the start of the 2025 season, something clicked, not just a single click, but a way of working that we have also adopted for Oscar. This approach has led Lando to continuous improvements," he added. Stella also highlighted Norris's mastery in low-grip conditions, calling him "the master" in such situations.
Qualifying performance has been a key area of improvement. Last season, Norris and Piastri were evenly matched on one lap, but this year Norris has shown significant gains in single-lap pace, maximizing performance in qualifying trim—something that was a concern early in 2025. With momentum and confidence on his side, Norris now poses a serious threat to Antonelli and Mercedes in the title race.
While questions remain over Oscar Piastri's second-stint tyre behaviour, Stella sees a positive trajectory for both drivers. But the spotlight remains on Norris, who is in the form of his life. If this trend continues, the 2026 world title could well return to the hands of the number 4 driver.
Baca Juga
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